If you see ply rating and load range on a chart, they both represent the tire's maximum load carrying capacity at maximum allowable air pressure. Instead, the ply rating indicates an equivalent strength compared to early cotton-constructed bias ply tires. Now, tires are constructed using fewer, yet much stronger, plies so the term ply rating doesn't refer to the actual number of plies anymore. In today's modern world, tire plies are no longer made out of cotton.
Ply rating referred to how many layers, or plies, of cotton had been used in the tire's construction, and the number of plies determined the strength of the tire. The historical term ply rating goes back to the days when bias ply tires were actually constructed of layer upon layer of cotton fabric - yes, cotton. Load ranges and ply ratings are both used to identify load and inflation limits for any given tire. They are actually terms from radically different historical eras that mean basically the same thing. You may hear the terms tire load ranges and tire ply ratings tossed around together - one, which is designated by letters, and one, which is designated by numbers. Therefore, bigger tires with a higher ply rating can hold more air and, thus, can carry more substantial loads. That said, if you're going to be hauling a super-heavy load - maybe a load that's over the maximum load recommendation for your particular set of tires, per industry standards - then you're going to need more air to support that load of which your current tires cannot support. Which Came First, the Tire or the Air?īefore getting down into the nitty-gritty of what tire load range is and what it means for you and your vehicle, it's important to understand it's not so much the tire that carries the weight - of your vehicle, of your body, of your belongings - as it is the air inside your tire. There are letters on the tire's sidewall that correspond with "tire load range," historically known as the "tire ply rating." Load range and ply rating specifically refer to how much load your tire can support at maximum allowable air pressure.
#4.80 12 trailer tire load range c how to#
If you're in the market for tires or interested in changing tire sizes or switching from one type of tire to another, it is important to understand load range, what it means, and how to identify it so that you install the right tires to accommodate your vehicle's intended use.
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